Smoking article mouthpiece

ABSTRACT

A mouthpiece for a smoking article, the mouthpiece comprising a smoking article articulation end and a mouthpiece end with a flow path extending therebetween, and wherein the mouthpiece end comprises a lip portion configurable for placing at a space between lips of an individual without pursing.

TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD

The present disclosure is concerned with a mouthpiece for a smokingarticle.

Hereinafter in the specification and claims the term smoking article isused in its broad sense and includes smoking articles of any type, sizeand shape, including without limitation, cigarettes, e-cigarettes,cigars, smoking pipes, hookahs, smoking bong, etc.

BACKGROUND

In spite the fact that the tobacco epidemic is one of the biggest publichealth threats the world has ever faced, according to some estimates,there are about one billion smokers in the world, and some estimate thatalmost 20% of the world's population smoke cigarettes, with about 6.5trillion cigarettes sold around the world each year, which translates toroughly 18 billion cigarettes per day.

Many types of cigarette holders are available on the market, serving asa fashion accessory, mostly in the form of a slender tube in which acigarette is held for smoking. Cigarette holders were considered anessential part of ladies' fashion from the early 1910s. Also, somecigarette holders are configured with a filtration arrangement fortrapping some of the nicotine.

It is believed that smoking is one of the reasons for severe lip andmouth wrinkles (often referred to as ‘smoker's lines’, ‘smoker'swrinkles’ or ‘cigarette creases’), caused by the repeated pursing, i.e.restricting the orbicular muscle wrapping around the mouth and lips.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

According to the present disclosure there is provided a mouthpiece for asmoking article, the mouthpiece comprising a smoking articlearticulation end and a mouthpiece end with a flow path extendingtherebetween, and wherein the mouthpiece end comprises a lip portionconfigured for occupying a major space between lips of an individual.

The disclosure is directed to a mouthpiece for a smoking article, themouthpiece comprising a body portion configured with a smoking articlearticulation portion and a mouthpiece portion, with a flow pathextending therebetween; said smoking article articulation portioncomprises a smoking article holder articulable with a mouth portion of asmoking article, and said mouthpiece portion is configured with a lipportion, wherein the lip portion is significantly greater than thesmoking article holder.

The term mouth portion as used herein the specification and claimsrefers to a portion of a smoking article which in regular use of thesmoking article is placed between user's lips for manipulating/smokingthe smoking article, such as a cigarette bud (with or without a filter),a mouthpiece of any smoking article, etc.

The arrangement is such that the lip portion is configured for occupyinga major space extending between lips of an individual, whereby, in use,a major portion of the lips of the individual are supported over the lipportion (rather than over the mouth portion of the smoking article) andare prevented from pursing, i.e. constricting over the smoking article(such that the lips substantially do not deform when accommodation thelip portion, namely the lips do not close around the relatively smalldiameter smoking article).

The shape and size of the lip portion is configured so as to fit into amoderately open mouth, however without pursing lips, i.e. at a naturalstate of the lips.

According to a particular configuration of the disclosure the lipportion has a complimentary shape of the lips of a mouth of an adult oradolescent individual, at a slightly open state, however with lips notpursed.

Any one or more of the following features, design and configurations canbe applied in a mouthpiece according to the present disclosure,separately or in various combinations thereof:

-   -   A section area of the lip portion is significantly greater than        a section area of the smoking article holder;    -   An inside diameter of the smoking article holder is        significantly smaller than a diameter of a minimal circle        inscribing the lip portion;    -   The lip portion can be configured with a generally flat shape,        with rounded edges; the lip portion can be oval;    -   The flat shape of the lip portion can be configured with        narrowing side edges;    -   The flat shape of the lip portion can be configured with one or        more axially extending groove at each side edge, imparting side        portions of the lip portion pliability;    -   A one or both lip surfaces of the lip portion can be configured        with an axially extending groove, conforming with a lip tubercle        shape (cupid bow);    -   The smoking article holder can be configured as a tubular        member, configured for being received within a mouth portion of        the smoking article or for receiving a mouth portion of the        smoking article;    -   The smoking article holder can be configured with a tapering        cross section, rendering it suitable for articulation with        different sizes of a mouth portion of smoking articles;    -   The smoking article holder can be configured with a stepped        cross section, (i.e. configured with two or more distinct        radii), rendering it suitable for articulation with different        sizes of a mouth portion of smoking articles;    -   The smoking article holder and the lip portion can extend        coaxially along a longitudinal axis of the mouthpiece;    -   A stopper portion can be configured within a tubular portion of        the smoking article holder, for restricting axial insertion of a        mouth portion of a smoking article there into;    -   The smoking article holder when configured as a tubular member,        can constitute a finger grip/holder for the mouthpiece;    -   The mouthpiece can be made of a homogenous material, or it can        be made of several different materials; for example, the lip        portion can be made of a resilient martial and the body portion        can be made of a hard material;    -   The mouthpiece can be made of hard material;    -   The mouthpiece can be made of elastomeric/resilient material;    -   The mouthpiece can be made of natural material such as wood;    -   The mouthpiece can be made of disposable/biodegradable material;    -   The mouthpiece can be washable;    -   The mouthpiece can be made of translucent material;    -   The mouthpiece can be configured with personalized sensational        parameters, such as appearance, shape, color, smell, taste;        texturizing, hardness, etc.;    -   A surface portion of the mouthpiece can be configured with        adverting;    -   The mouthpiece can be configured with one or more air channels        extending from a surface of the body to the flow path;    -   The mouthpiece can be fitted with a filtration unit;    -   The filtration unit can be integral with or integrated with the        mouthpiece;    -   The filtration unit can be fitted at either or both the smoking        article articulation portion and the mouthpiece portion;    -   The filtration unit can be replaceable;    -   The smoking article holder can be a tubular support extending        from an end of the body;    -   The length of the tubular support can suffice for gripping        between the fingers of an individual, at a smoking position;    -   The length of the tubular support can customized by trimming;    -   The mouthpiece can be fitted with a flavoring agent disposed        along the flow path, whereby inhaling results in intake of a        flavored smoking sensation; the flavoring agent can be disposed        within a replaceable cartridge;    -   At least the lip portion of the body of the mouthpiece, can be        made of a heat insolating material, thereby reducing heat        transferred to the lips of the user while dragging;    -   The section area and shape of the flow path can be so as to        maintain a smooth drag therethrough, without increasing the        force required for a drag from the smoking article.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to better understand the subject matter that is disclosedherein and to exemplify how it may be carried out in practice,embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only,with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the mouthpiece according to thedisclosure, from a proximal end;

FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the mouthpiece of FIG. 1A, from adistal end;

FIG. 1C is a section along line 1C-1C in FIG. 1A;

FIG. 1D is a section along line 1D-1D in FIG. 1A

FIG. 2A is a top planar view of the mouthpiece of FIG. 1D;

FIG. 2B is a side planar view of the mouthpiece of FIG. 1C;

FIG. 3A is a proximal perspective view of the mouthpiece according tothe disclosure, fitted with a cigarette;

FIG. 3B is distal perspective view of FIG. 3A;

FIG. 3C is a section along line 3C-3C in FIG. 3A;

FIG. 3D is a section along line 3D-3D in FIG. 3A;

FIG. 4A illustrates a face portion of an individual and a mouthpiecefitted with a cigarette;

FIG. 4B is a side view illustrating an individual using the mouthpiece;

FIG. 4C is a front view of a mouth holding a mouthpiece fitted with acigarette;

FIGS. 5A to 5D are sectioned views of a mouthpiece according to thedisclosure, illustrating different embodiments and variations thereof,wherein;

FIG. 5A is a top planar sectioned view illustrating a smoking articleholder configured with a tapering cross section;

FIG. 5B is a perspective sectioned view illustrating a smoking articleholder configured with a stepped cross section, and with an extendedsmoking article holder;

FIG. 5C is a sectioned side view, illustrating a mouthpiece fitted witha filtration unit;

FIG. 5D is a sectioned side view, illustrating a mouthpiece configuredwith air channels;

FIGS. 6A to 6C illustrate examples of different smoking articles used inconjunction with a mouthpiece according to the disclosure, wherein:

FIG. 6A illustrates a hookah fitted with a mouthpiece according to thedisclosure;

FIG. 6B illustrates a smoking pipe fitted with a mouthpiece according tothe disclosure; and

FIG. 6C illustrates a bong fitted with a mouthpiece according to thedisclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Attention is first directed to FIGS. 1 and 2, illustrating a mouthpieceaccording to an example of the present disclosure, generally designated20.

The mouthpiece 20 is made of a resilient material, such as siliconerubber, and comprises a body portion 22 with a smoking articlearticulation portion 24 at a distal side, and mouthpiece portion 26 atan opposite, proximal side. Whilst the mouthpiece of the present exampleis made of resilient, elastomeric material, it is appreciated that themouthpiece can be made of any other material, such as, wood, metal,polymeric material, ceramics, etc. Even more so, the mouthpiece 20 canbe made of combination of materials, e.g. it can be made of a hardmaterial with over-molding of resilient material over at least a portionthereof, such as the mouthpiece portion 26.

At least the lip portion of the body of the mouthpiece, can be made of aheat insolating material, thereby reducing heat transferred to the lipsof the user while smoking.

The smoking article articulation portion 24 is configured with a smokingarticle holder 28, in the form of a tubular extension, having an insidediameter D_(i) corresponding with the diameter D_(s) of a smokingarticle, namely cigarette 32 (illustrated in FIGS. 3A to 3D) and thusarticulable with a mouth portion of cigarette 32, such as an end 34,e.g. a filter end, as will be discussed herein after in greater detail.The tubular extension 28 has an outer diameter D_(o) (D_(o)>D_(i)).

The mouthpiece portion 26 has a lip portion 40 which is a flat portionof the body 22, having two identical faces and configured with a centralgroove 42 (corresponding with the lip tubercle shape 45 (FIG. 4C). Theshape and size of lip portion 40 conforms with the shape and size of thespace 47 (FIG. 4A) between the superior, upper lip 49 and the inferior,bottom lip 49 _(b) of a slightly open mouth of an adult individual, at anatural, non-pursing position. The side portions of lip portion 40 areslightly narrower and thinner and terminate at a longitudinal sidecrease 46, imparting the side portions increased resilience, forreducing pressure from the oral commissures of the user and a pleasantfeel. It is however appreciated that the lip portion 40 can be devoid ofsaid side creases 46 and said central groove 42.

It is well noted that the inside diameter D_(i) of the smoking articleholder (as well as the outside diameter D_(o)) is significantly smallerthan a diameter D_(max) of a minimal circle inscribing the lip portion(D_(i)<<D_(max)).

A flow path 54 extends along a longitudinal axis X of the mouthpiece 20,between the distal end (namely from smoking article holder 28) and theproximal end (namely from mouthpiece portion 26), with a somewhatflattened outlet opening 56 at the distal wall portion 58 of mouthpieceportion 26. Notably, the mouthpiece 20 is symmetric about thelongitudinal axis X. The section area and the shape of the flow path canbe so as to maintain a smooth drag therethrough, without increasing theforce required for a drag from the smoking article.

It is noted that the shape and size of lip portion 40 is configured soas to fit into a moderately open mouth of an individual, however withoutpursing lips, i.e. at a natural state of the lips. However, themouthpiece 20 can be configured at different sizes (e.g. Large, Regularand Small, so as to suit physiological parameters of differentindividuals.

Reverting as can be seen, best in FIG. 2B, the flow path 54 somewhatnarrows towards the distal end thereof, at an imaginary line 62.Accordingly, insertion of a cigarette 32 into the tubular smokingarticle holder 28 is restricted, as the mouth portion (filter side tip)reaches said narrowing portion. However, the narrowing is gradual,whereby the mouth portion of a cigarette is fitted into said narrowedportion to a small extent, for gripping same, with substantially onlylittle pressure, if any.

With additional reference made to FIGS. 3A to 3D of the drawings, anexample is illustrated wherein a smoking article, namely cigarette 32 isused in conjunction with a mouthpiece 20, according to an example of thedisclosure, wherein a mouth portion of cigarette 32 (namely filter end34) is introduced into the tubular smoking article holder 28, extendinginto the flow path 54 within body portion 22, whereby it is gripped byvery moderate pressure/friction (against inside wall surfaces of thedevice), so as to prevent spontaneous detaching of the cigarette 32 fromthe mouthpiece 20.

In use, as illustrated in FIGS. 4A to 4C, the individual grips themouthpiece 20 (e.g. at the outside surface of tubular smoking articleholder 28 (or over a portion of the cigarette), just like regulargripping of a cigarette, or otherwise at the body portion 22, and whensmoking the lip portion 40 is placed between the lips of the individualat a slightly open mouth position, at a natural, non-pursed position. Asseen in FIG. 4C, the mouthpiece occupies a major portion of the space 47(between the superior, upper lip 49 _(u) and the inferior, bottom lip 49_(b)), thereby preventing the individual from pursing lips duringsmoking, thus eliminating or reducing the formation of smoking-relatedcreases, and however, without interfering with the smoking sensation.

Turning now to FIGS. 5A to D there are examples of additionalembodiments and modifications of the mouthpiece according to thedisclosure, however all following the principal design features of thedisclosure.

The mouthpiece generally designated 70 illustrated in FIG. 5A has anexternal appearance identical with that disclosed in connection with theprevious illustrations, in particular as far as the shape and size ifthe mouthpiece portion 71. However, mouthpiece 70 is configured with aflow path 72 having a tapering cross-section along the longitudinal axisX. The tubular smoking article holder 74 is configured with an endinside diameter Da (corresponding with the diameter D_(s) of a standardcigarette) and narrowing in the proximal direction, so as to fit thediameter of a slim/slender cigarette, to a minimal diameter Du, wherebythe unitary mouthpiece 70 can be used to accommodate different sizes ofa mouth portion of a smoking article.

In FIG. 5B there is illustrated yet an example of a mouthpiece generallydesignated 80, having an external appearance identical with thatdisclosed in connection with the previous illustrations, in particularas far as the shape and size if the mouthpiece portion 82. In thisexample the smoking article holder is an elongate tubular portion 84(i.e. longer than tubular portion 28 of the previous examples), suchthat in use the mouthpiece 80 is gripped over said elongate tubularportion 84.

The length of the elongate tubular portion 84 can be trimmed accordingto individual preferences and according to an embodiment of thedisclosure, an external surface of the elongate tubular portion 84 canbe configured with length trimming indicia (not shown).

In addition, the flow path 88 of the mouthpiece 80 is configured with anannular shoulder (‘step’) 90, facilitating as a stopper to preventexcessive insertion of a smoking article (not shown) into the flow path88.

In FIG. 5C there is illustrated yet an example of a mouthpiece generallydesignated 100, having an external appearance identical with thatdisclosed in connection with the previous illustrations, in particularas far as the shape and size if the mouthpiece portion 102. In thisexample the smoking article holder is a tubular portion 104, slightlylonger than tubular portion 28 disclosed above (FIGS. 1 to 3), andfurther wherein the flow path 106 is configured at a proximal portionthereof with an stopper shoulder 108. The extended space of the flowpath 106 facilitates introducing one or more capsule 110 such as filterelement, a flavor (taste/smell) inducing element, medicament or treatingcapsule, etc., wherein the shoulder 108 prevents further displacement ofthe element 110 in the proximal direction.

The example of FIG. 5D illustrates another example of a mouthpiecegenerally designated 120, having an external appearance identical withthat disclosed in connection with the previous illustrations, inparticular as far as the shape and size if the mouthpiece portion 122,however wherein several air channels 124 extend from an outside surface126 of the body portion into the flow path 128, wherein each dragthrough the mouthpiece 120 results in less cigarette burn, as moreambient air is inhaled. According to a modification of this example,different agents can be introduced into such channels such as flavoragents, medicament/treating agents, etc. (e.g. placed in suitablecartridges not shown).

Turning now to FIGS. 6A to 6C, there are illustrated different examplesof using a mouthpiece according to the disclosure, in conjunction withdifferent smoking articles.

In FIG. 6A a mouthpiece 130, of the type disclosed herein above inaccordance with any of the examples, is fitted over a mouthpiece 132 ofa hose 134 of a hookah 136.

In FIG. 6B a mouthpiece 140, of the type disclosed herein above inaccordance with any of the examples, is fitted over a bit 142 of a stem144 of a smoking pipe 146. It is thus appreciated that a distal portionof the smoking article holder can be configured with a non-circularsection, so as to fit over different shapes of a mouth portion ofvarious smoking articles (e.g. flat, as in the case of a bit of asmoking pipe).

Whilst in previous examples illustrated herein, the smoking article isintroduced into the tubular smoking article holder, FIG. 6C illustratesa mouthpiece 150 articulated with a smoking bong 152 wherein the smokingarticle holder 156 a somewhat elongate tubular portion introduced into amouthpiece end 158 of the smoking tube 160. The tubular portion of thesmoking article holder 156 can be flexible and it can be fitted withannular sealing ribs for press fit against inside wall surface of thesmoking tube 160.

It is appreciated that the mouthpiece can be configured withpersonalized sensational parameters, such as appearance, shape, color,smell, taste; texturizing, hardness, etc. in addition. a surface portionof the mouthpiece can be configured with adverting surface.

1-16. (canceled)
 17. A mouthpiece for a smoking article, the mouthpiececomprising: a smoking article articulation end; and a mouthpiece endwith a flow path extending between the mouthpiece end and the smokingarticle articulation end; wherein the mouthpiece end comprises a lipportion configurable for placing at a space between lips of anindividual without pursing.
 18. The mouthpiece according to claim 17,wherein the lip portion is configured with a generally flat shape, withrounded edges.
 19. The mouthpiece according to claim 18, wherein thegenerally flat shape of the lip portion is configured with narrowingside edges.
 20. The mouthpiece according to claim 18, wherein thegenerally flat shape of the lip portion is configured with one or moreaxially extending grooves at each side edge, imparting side portions ofthe lip portion pliability.
 21. The mouthpiece according to claim 18,wherein one or both lip surfaces of the lip portion is configurable withan axially extending groove, conforming with a lip tubercle shape. 22.The mouthpiece according to claim 17, made of a resilient elastomericmaterial.
 23. The mouthpiece according to claim 17, wherein the flowpath is configurable with a filtration unit.
 24. A mouthpiece for asmoking article, the mouthpiece comprising: a body portion configuredwith a smoking article articulation portion and a mouthpiece portion,with a flow path extending therebetween; wherein said smoking articlearticulation portion comprises a smoking article holder articulable witha mouth portion of a smoking article; and wherein said mouthpieceportion is configured with a lip portion, wherein the lip portion issignificantly greater than the smoking article holder.
 25. Themouthpiece according to claim 24, wherein an inside diameter of thesmoking article holder is significantly smaller than a diameter of aminimal circle inscribing the lip portion.
 26. The mouthpiece accordingto claim 24, wherein a section area of the lip portion is significantlygreater than a section area of the smoking article holder.
 27. Themouthpiece according to claim 24, wherein the smoking article holder isa tubular member, configured for being received within a mouth portionof the smoking article or for receiving a mouth portion of the smokingarticle.
 28. The mouthpiece according to claim 27, wherein the smokingarticle holder is a tubular element configured with an altering diameterfor articulating to smoking articles of different diameters.
 29. Themouthpiece according to claim 24, wherein the smoking article holder andthe lip portion extend coaxially along a longitudinal axis of themouthpiece.
 30. The mouthpiece according to claim 27, wherein thetubular member of the smoking article holder is configured with astopper portion, for restricting axial insertion of a mouth portion of asmoking article there into.
 31. The mouthpiece according to claim 27,wherein the tubular member is a tubular support extending from a distalend of the body.